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Buffalo Hide Tanning and Teachings – Part 1 – Introducing Buffalo People Arts Institute


The resilience of the buffalo is in our blood and we must re-learn and remember our relationship with the buffalo. 

Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway and Lorne Kequahtooway are artists and leaders behind the Buffalo People Arts Institute (BPAI). Founded in 2015, BPAI became a non-profit organization whose mission is to share traditional Indigenous teachings and knowledge in order to raise social consciousness and create awareness of the power and strength drawn from blood memory and our connection to the buffalo.

In collaboration with NCCIE and Common Weal, BPAI documents the process of and teachings about buffalo hide tanning. This series of stories entitled, Buffalo Hide Tanning and Teachings, takes you on a journey of exploring connection to the buffalo while also reflecting on the social and historical realities of the buffalo and the people who rely on its survival.

Please note: The quality of the audio and video in each interview on NCCIE.CA may vary. NCCIE has been a capacity- and skills-building project for students and youth. They have been "learning-through-doing," learning how to arrange and conduct interviews while, at the same time, gaining experience with the technology.

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Buffalo Hide Tanning and Teachings – Part 2 – Making a Buffalo Bone Scraping Tool

In Part 2 of the series, Lorne shares his knowledge about and models making a buffalo bone scraping tool used on buffalo hides. 

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In Part 3 of the series, the Buffalo People Arts Institute prepare the buffalo hide for scraping.

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In Part 4 of the series, the Buffalo People Arts Institute demonstrate hide scraping tips and techniques.

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Primary (K - Grade 8)
Secondary (Grade 9 - 12/13)
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In Part 5 of the series, the Buffalo People Arts Institute demonstrate scraping the epidermal layer of the hide.

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In Part 6 of the series, the Buffalo People Arts Institute demonstrate how to prepare the buffalo hide for braining, how to brain the hide, and how to scrape a brained hide.

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In Part 7 of the series, the Buffalo People Arts Institute smoke a buffalo hide.

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Contact Details

Organization: Buffalo People Arts Institute
Name: Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway and Lorne Kequahtooway
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/buffalopeopleartsinstitute/about/?ref=page_internal
Instagram: #buffalopeopleartsinstitute

Contributor

Name: Steffany Salloum
Regional Lead(s):
  • Bettina Schneider 
  • Dustin Brass 

Province/Territory

Saskatchewan

Education Levels

Community
Family
Post-Secondary
Primary (K - Grade 8)
Secondary (Grade 9 - 12/13)
Teacher Education

Education Topics

Culture
History
Land-based Learning
Traditional Knowledge

Language Spoken

English